France French Medal of Mutual Benefit

[Guest Darrell]

Created in 1852, this bronze medal was awarded to friendly societies to reward their devotion or for exceptional services.

Obverse:

[Guest Darrell]

Obverse Closeup:

[Guest Darrell]

Reverse:

[Guest Darrell]

Reverse Closeup;

[Jef]

Reverse Closeup;

Hello Darrel,

it seemes some medals were named.

Kind regards,

Jef

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[Christophe]

Hi Jef,

They are usually named.

The one Darrell and you are showing are of the 4th type. I have one of the 3rd type named in 1908.

Ch.

[Hendrik]

The one Darrell and you are showing are of the 4th type.

Hello Christophe & all,

Refering to the excellent site http://www.france-phaleristique.com/ I found there are 5 types and the one with the "Minist?re du Travail" etc. reverse legend, being the latest type, would thus be type 5. Whatever the type, they were awarded in bronze, silver and gold classes as can be seen in the pictures below. The field of French civil medals is vast and complicated to say the least but these "M?dailles d'Honneur" do have a certain appeal One of the questions I've been asking myself is why the named reverses can be found with and without the year of award. As can be seen on the reverses of the medals below, the gold class bears the recipient's name only, the silver class one contains both name and year - yet both are of the same type and awarded by the same ministry. Any ideas ?

Cheers,

Hendrik.

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[Hendrik]

The reverses

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